Primary Wave buys music rights from estates of Layne Staley and Mike Starr of Alice In Chains

Primary Wave Music has acquired music rights from the estates of Layne Staley and Mike Starr of the legendary grunge band, Alice In Chains.

According to a statement, the deal will see the publisher acquire a stake in the Layne Staley’s and Mike Starr’s music publishing catalog, as well as master royalty income stream.

Today’s news follows Primary Wave’s acquisition last month of an “additional” stake in Def Leppard’s music publishing catalog, as well as the band’s master royalty income stream.

It was also reported last month that the company struck new catalog deals for a combined $60 million, including $20 million on a stake in Paul Rodgers’ music publishing catalog for Free and Bad Company, as well as his master recording income streams for both bands.

Primary Wave also acquired Gerry Beckley’s and Dewey Bunnell’s rights in the America music catalog, in a deal worth $40 million.

Some of the royalties acquired include Man In the Box, Rooster, and No Excuses, as well as their hit recording Would? which was released in 1992 and appeared in the film Singles, and on the Singles soundtrack.

A number of additional songs in the catalog include several Grammy nominated singles, number one hits, and many platinum and multi-platinum tracks.

Primary Wave says that additional deal terms will now see members of both estates gain access to the firm’s marketing team, digital team, branding team and publishing infrastructure which includes licensing and sync opportunities.

“These projects represent the greatest works from one of the best artists of the iconic ’90’s Seattle based grunge era.”

David Weitzman, Primary Wave Music

Of the deal, Primary Wave Music’s David Weitzman, said: “Primary Wave is pleased to partner with the estates of Layne Staley and Mike Starr to honor their musical legacies as part of the classic era lineup of Alice In Chains, who created the amazing songs and records that comprise the albums Dirt and Facelift, and the acoustic EPs, Jar of Flies and Sap.

“These projects represent the greatest works from one of the best artists of the iconic ’90’s Seattle based grunge era.”


ocalist Layne Staley and Guitarist Jerry Cantrell both played in metal bands prior to the formation of Alice In Chains in 1987 and they released the band’s debut, Facelift, in 1990.

After the group scored rock radio and MTV hits with Man in the Box and Would? in the early days of grunge, Alice In Chains became one of the first alt-rock bands of the ’90s to delve into acoustic-based music, scoring hits with No Excuses and I Stay Away.

In June 1992, Alice In Chains filmed a cameo in Singles, Cameron Crowe’s romantic comedy celebrating Seattle’s underground scene of the early ’90s.

By the time the film’s soundtrack appeared, the Seattle scene had exploded in the US, and Alice In Chains were a prominent fixture.

Would? doubled as the first single from both the Singles soundtrack and Alice In Chains’ second album, Dirt.

Them Bones, the second single, became their first song to chart on Billboard‘s alternative rock chart.

By December, the album earned a platinum certification and would go platinum once again in 1993 and 1995, with a fourth and final certification arriving in 2000 — and it stayed on the charts thanks to Angry Chair and the Top 10 mainstream rock hits Rooster and Down in a Hole.

Upon its January 1994 release, Alice In Chains’ Jar of Flies became the first EP to debut at No.1 on the Billboard charts and, thanks in part to No Excuses, which went to No.1 on the mainstream rock chart and No.3 on Billboard’s alternative chart. It was certified platinum by March; it would eventually earn two additional certifications.

Alice In Chains reconvened to record their third and self-titled album with producer Toby Wright.

Vocalist Layne Staley was writer or co-writer for eight of the twelve tracks on the record and upon its November 1995 release, the eponymous record debuted at No.1 on Billboard.

Lead singles Grind and Heaven Beside You reached the mainstream rock Top 10; the latter peaked at No.6 on the alternative rock chart.


In the past seven months alone, New York-headquartered Primary Wave has acquired rights to music by the likes of PrinceBing CrosbyLuther VandrossChris IsaakTeddy PendergrassGerry Goffin,  James Brown

The firm’s acquisitions also include rights to music by TOTO drummer Jeff Porcaro, Survivor’s Jim Peterik, and The Waterboys’ Mike Scott, while additionally acquiring the legendary Sun Records label.Music Business Worldwide